Tusk attacks Nawrocki at Armed Forces Day in Gdyni, citing 'betrayal' and blocked 180 billion zł SAFE program

Tusk's address in Gdyni

On Saturday, 15 August, Prime Minister Donald Tusk spoke during Polish Armed Forces Day celebrations in Gdyni, where a naval parade of the Polish Navy was held at sea. The date marked the 106th anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw, which Tusk described as one of the most important battles in the history of Poland and the world. The main ceremonies took place in Warsaw with a military parade, while the naval parade was held near Gdyni. The Battle of Warsaw was the decisive engagement of the Polish-Bolshevik war of 1920, which secured Poland's independence and saved Europe from Bolshevism.

Tusk paid tribute to soldiers, pilots, and especially sailors, saying that without their sacrifice and dedication Poland would not be a sovereign state today. He framed his address as a brief report to the Polish nation on what the government and the nation are jointly doing for the country's security, adding that Poland wants to avoid war and that only the strong, well-prepared, independent, and sovereign can avoid it.

Four pillars of security

Tusk outlined four pillars of Polish security built through the effort of the entire nation. The first was safe and sealed borders. He declared that the border with Belarus is now sealed and that nobody really has a chance to slip through anymore. He said Poland had invested the effort of thousands of soldiers, border guard officers, and police officers into border security, and addressed those who would illegally cross Polish borders: they would not pass without the consent of the Polish state.

The second pillar was real alliances and wise foreign policy. Tusk mentioned the "Shield East" initiative and Poland's work within NATO's "Baltic Center." He referenced treaties signed with European states, including Ukraine, which is fighting Russia. He stated that supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia is Poland's own security, done for Poles and for nobody else.

The third pillar was major investments in the Polish army. Tusk said Polish armed forces would soon be the largest in Europe and that Poland was building a force whose modernity and size would determine the fate of the region, something the whole world, especially Poland's allies, appreciates. The fourth pillar was the economy, which he said was growing four times faster than Germany's and five times faster than France's, even as Poland spends heavily on defense.

Attack on the opposition

Tusk used the speech to attack political opponents, including President Nawrocki and the PiS party. He spoke of "betrayal" and "stupidity" as threats to Poland's security, saying that someone was trying to strike at the four pillars not only from Moscow but also from inside Poland. He accused opponents of blocking the SAFE project, worth 180 billion zł for the military, police, and border guard, and of attempting to divide Poland from its closest allies. He said there are politicians who want to convince Poles that Europe is the main problem and that Ukraine is the enemy.

Poland will be safe only when there is no betrayal and extreme stupidity or irresponsibility in Poland.

Tusk also said that some politicians raise their arms to the Lord God and invoke honor while simultaneously undermining the country's security.

They raise their arms to the Lord God, they invoke honor.